Jesse_Dylan Posted May 19, 2008 Share Posted May 19, 2008 I'm such a... strange person. Upgrading my computer just to get more detail out of Oblivion. Eh, well, if any game was ever worth it, it's this one, and I'm thinking idly about Fallout 3 as well. Sure I could get the Xbox 360 version, but after seeing how great the PC version of Oblivion has become with mods, well... there is just no comparison. Anyway, I'm currently running an Athlon 64 X2 something or other at 2.5 Ghz, 60-some watts, and I'm thinking about getting the 3.2 Ghz version instead. My two questions: What kind of performance increase will I get? Should I even bother? All right, that's two questions, so I guess I have three. I'm a little worried about the fact that the new processor is 125W instead of 60-some. I wonder if that might cause a problem. I'd prefer not to have to upgrade my PSU. Well, that was only two questions after all. The wattage business was phrased as a statement. :) In order to know what kind of impact a new processor would have, my other system specs include Vista as the operating system, 4gb ram, and an ATI Radeon X1950 Pro (512mb vram). Maybe I should be upgrading my video card instead, huh? Or both? Oh sigh, more wattage. I haven't broken into my PC for a while, so I'm not even sure what the wattage on my PSU is. There's always Bioware's Dragon Age coming out eventually, too. And Spore... So it might be worth having a decent PC. I'd prefer not to mess with the PSU, but I could do it; I definitely don't want to switch out the motherboard or anything like that, though! Another wattage-sucking option would be a second video card for SLI or Crossfire mode or whatever it's called. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nosisab Posted May 19, 2008 Share Posted May 19, 2008 I'm such a... strange person. Upgrading my computer just to get more detail out of Oblivion. Eh, well, if any game was ever worth it, it's this one, and I'm thinking idly about Fallout 3 as well. Sure I could get the Xbox 360 version, but after seeing how great the PC version of Oblivion has become with mods, well... there is just no comparison. Anyway, I'm currently running an Athlon 64 X2 something or other at 2.5 Ghz, 60-some watts, and I'm thinking about getting the 3.2 Ghz version instead. My two questions: What kind of performance increase will I get? Should I even bother? All right, that's two questions, so I guess I have three. I'm a little worried about the fact that the new processor is 125W instead of 60-some. I wonder if that might cause a problem. I'd prefer not to have to upgrade my PSU. Well, that was only two questions after all. The wattage business was phrased as a statement. :) In order to know what kind of impact a new processor would have, my other system specs include Vista as the operating system, 4gb ram, and an ATI Radeon X1950 Pro (512mb vram). Maybe I should be upgrading my video card instead, huh? Or both? Oh sigh, more wattage. I haven't broken into my PC for a while, so I'm not even sure what the wattage on my PSU is. There's always Bioware's Dragon Age coming out eventually, too. And Spore... So it might be worth having a decent PC. I'd prefer not to mess with the PSU, but I could do it; I definitely don't want to switch out the motherboard or anything like that, though! Another wattage-sucking option would be a second video card for SLI or Crossfire mode or whatever it's called.The gain in performance at these specs changing the CPU will be significant enough to be worth.As rule of thumb, if you actual PSU is able to handle the rig without problems, chances are it will be enough to support the extra load. Yet, this isn't a thing one can say for certain, you understand. Anyway, even if this turns to be an issue the gain in performance of the processor is worth upgrading the PSU too. I don't know your video card, so I can't advise if the question becomes CPU 'or' it. Edit: You are not so strange... this specs of you clams for the best CPUexcept Vista that no CPU is enough, but I think I'm a bit polarized here so.. don't mind Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGTBOB Posted May 19, 2008 Share Posted May 19, 2008 Anyway, I'm currently running an Athlon 64 X2 something or other at 2.5 Ghz,Lol and your thinking you need a better processor!?!all right my quad q6600 is 2.4 ghz and only one of the four processors is actualy used when running oblivion on the highest settings, not to mention that one core is only at 60% at most and all three other cores are at 0-1% usage what you should get is a better graphics card i recommend the Diamond Radeon HD 3870 because thats what i use and i can play crysis at all High settings at 30-40 fps (depending on how much action and scenery around)if your worried about extra power sucking you can sell your old graphics card if its that much of a problem (nice thing about ati is cards are backwards compatible for crossfire) heres some screenys this is of crysis on all high using this cardhttp://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q8/SGT-BOB/Cloak1.jpgthis is what the card looks like in my comp.http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q8/SGT-...computer038.jpghope this helps,-SGTBOB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse_Dylan Posted May 19, 2008 Author Share Posted May 19, 2008 Interesting! Thanks for the replies, guys. I'll check out that video card. Sounds nice! So theoretically I could run both the new video card and my current one together in SLI mode? Not that it sounds like it would be necessary, but one never knows. And maybe I will upgrade the processor as well. :) hehe... I'd love to be able to run Oblivion with all the detail at max, all the best texture packs installed, etc etc. Why do I care? Oh, who knows. I'd probably have to get a copy of Crysis just for the graphical fun as well. :) Thanks again. And if anyone else has advice, I'll be happy to hear that as well! PS: I'm browsing the Radeon HD 3870 right now. It looks like a fantastic card. My brain is swimming with possibilities. Most of them drastic overkill. :) Oh, about the processor stuff Bob, I've heard that Crysis is programmed to use as many CPU cores as you can give it. So part of your success may indeed be from your four cores. Hard to say, really. Windows Experience Index (I know, ha, not exactly the world's best benchmark!) lists my processor as my weakest link. PPS: Won't be doing any Crossfire here! I really don't think my motherboard is compatible. It's not on the list at least. Oops! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGTBOB Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 Well im glad i could help you can get that card off newegg for only $180 I'm browsing the Radeon HD 3870 right now. It looks like a fantastic card. My brain is swimming with possibilities. Most of them drastic overkill.ha ha im no stranger to that i mean look at when i duped 10,000 watermelons at cloud ruler templehttp://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q8/SGT-BOB/10000melons.jpgand that was with all the settings maxed (bwa ha ha ha my computer is unconquered :banana: :banana: :banana: ) just post here if you need anything else,-SGTBOB EDIT- - - -well if your upgrading processor too you might need one of the new motherboards out thereim using the p5n-D asus board it has 775 socket for cpu and two PCI express 2.0 slots (great for when i get another card)heres a linkhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813131232 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse_Dylan Posted May 20, 2008 Author Share Posted May 20, 2008 Heh, you and your watermelons. Yep, there are a few versions of the card with rebates, too. Sapphire makes a nice one. I'm also looking at Nvidia 8800GT cards, or something like that. Since I won't be running SLI mode anyway, doesn't matter which brand I go with. Just gonna be swapping cards. And maybe tossing in a new processor. Should be good to go for Oblivion now and whatever else in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGTBOB Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 Well im sure youll think im one sided or bias or something but i really dont think anyone should be getting the gt nvidia cards right now because they are way overpriced and you get much more for you money with ATI my first card was a 8800GT but it just was too much for all that money im sure the market will change where Nvidia gives more for you money than ATI but as of now its more cost effective to go with ATI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Raven Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 The only thing I would add is, do not skimp on your Power Supply. UPS's don't usually catch low level brown outs which can kill a mobo life span. I know power supplies are not 'sexy' but I would be looking for reliability in a 850w to 1000w for the rigs you guys are building now. I know that sounds like a lot but it's not for the computing power you are using. Just my 2 cents. Storm Raven 8) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilkoal Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 i say, if you are willing to spend $500 go get the nvidia 9800 gs :) it is quite grand. i recently got one, and nothing can even keep up.but most of the issues with games are not the video cards, it is the hard drive bottlenecking all of the information. that is why i suggest getting some western digital "raptors," and putting them into a raid 5 configuration. it is quite fast, and you will have no problem with any game that is out! (unless you have an outdated video card and processor that is) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGTBOB Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 Well im running my rig on just a 550 W psu and i have had no problems (i even have the antec 900's four fans plugged in)1 kw psu is for many many harddrive computers but i doubt most people need more than two hard drives Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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